My View On Bits

Use the least amount of bit you can. That about sums it up for me.

Ok, so what DO you use that is the least amount?? It does make a difference if you are a newbie to horses or if you've been forking the old horse for years and 'really' riding (not passengering).

If you are a newbie to horses and their training, just say you're trying your hand at starting a colt. I like the vacquero ways of starting a colt in a bosal then progressing to the ring snaffle and on to the gentle curb.

A newbie is going to need a little stiffer, thicker bosal than say an experienced rider who can feel his horse better and work the reins. Just to give the newbie a little more 'omph' to tell the horse to pay attention. If an old hand gets up there, they can and will use a thinner, more pliable bosal. Generally, as you go along, you can go thinner and lighter with the bosals if you like, even to the point of leaving one on under a bitted headstall. Just as a horse should progress along with his training, the newbie rider should be able to progress with more horses to using a lighter, more flexible bosal.

As an aside, ALWAYS buy the better quality bosal that has a rawhide core and is slightly bendable, never buy the steel cord core. The bosal must be able to bend around the nose to work correctly, not just working on the nose.

About ring snaffles, I AM a ring snaffle girl! If it's a ring snaffle, I probably have it. Everything from uber fancy-schmancy to plain ol' $4.00 job.

I love slip ring snaffles. I think that the rein sets up a vibration that tells the horse something is getting ready to happen, collects himself and away you go. A set ring, like an eggbutt or D ring doesn't have this 'feature'. To me, the newbie rider MAY need to go with a set ring as they are a bit stiffer and may draw the horse up a little quicker, but you don't have the 'feel' that is so important to true riding. I do have offset snaffles and an eggbutt or two but I MUCH prefer the slip ring.

There is a website that tells to look what kind of mouth your horse has and what kind of bit is suitable for that sort of mouth. Like a low palate or thick lips or a deep mouth, etc. I'm in Firefox right now and I have it saved in IE (of course). I'll try to remember to post the link so you can read about the different mouths. My mare doesn't like ANY sort of pressure on her tongue (due to abuse, I'm sure of it) and likes a straighter mouthed snaffle and a medium port curb. I'm kind of ahead of myself but you'll see what I'm talking about in a sec.

About curb bits. I like a sweet iron mouth with copper inlay or a copper mouth. I tend to buy mostly Reinsman bits as they suit me just fine but I do have other brands. You do want the horse to slobber as this shows a wet mouth and a wet mouth can feel things better than say, a dry mouth and using an aluminum mouthed bit, there are a few still out there.

I like a medium shank, like 5-6 inches that I don't have to use a whole lot of rein but not so much shank that I've overbitted the horse. The longer the shank, the lighter your hands HAVE to be. A short shanked curb, you can kind of get away with more pulling than if you had a longer shanked bit. If you pulled too hard with a longer shank bit, you'll likely pull the horse over on you. That's why shorter curbs tend to be colt or started horse type bits.

'Bout those pesky mouthpieces. I'm for simpler the better. A medium and high port bit is about all I need. I don't hold with catherdrals to set a head. If you have to use that, go back and do more training. It's a short cut. I'm not too hot on low ports either, or straight bits as where does the tongue go?? It just gets mooshed down into the lower jaw. A medium port has a place and a high port really gives tongue relief. I've heard/read where people think the high port will hit the palate and create a rub spot. Not in my experience has it but then again, you have to have educated hands on the other end of the reins.

More 'bout' the stupid mouthpieces out there now. I've seen in my tack catalogs some of the downright dumbest bits, supposedly to 'correct' a horse. If you need such bits to correct your horse, YOU are doing something wrong. If he's spoiled and dives to the inside of turns, you need to do more training, not look to a shortcut with a bit. If he won't stop correctly, other than he's built wrong to stop right, you need to go back to basics and teach 'whoa' all over again.

A bit is not the problem solver, it's a communication device from your brain to the horse's mouth/brain. Reins are an extension of your arms clear down to the rein ring, hence to his mouth. IF you need some of these friggin' correction bits, you're aren't doing it right and not a horseman. Get the books down and start studying!!

I'll be more than HAPPY to debate bits with anyone on this subject. It's a pet peeve of mine.

Now, get out there and love on your Sugars today!! ;-)